The blues
Helen Merrill & Kenny Dorham Lyrics
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Waiting on the weary shore
I'm just a woman who's only human
One you should feel sorry for
It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found he was gone
How could he do it, why should he do it
Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me am I blue
Why, wouldn't you be too
If each plan with your man
Done fell through
There was a time
When I was his only one
But now I'm the sad and lonely one, lonely
Was I gay, until today
Now he's gone, and we're through
Am I blue
The lyrics of Helen Merrill's song "Am I Blue" express the emotions of a woman who has been abandoned by her lover and left alone on the "weary shore." She questions how he could leave her, as he had never done so before, and wonders if she is the cause of his departure. The repeated refrain of "Am I blue" serves as a reminder of her current state of sadness and loneliness, while also questioning if her lover is feeling the same sadness after their relationship fell through. She states that she was happy before his departure, but now she feels lost and alone, as if her world has been turned upside down.
The song, written in 1929 by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke, was initially featured in the film "On with the Show!" but has since been covered by a multitude of artists over the years, including Billie Holiday and Cher. The lyrics are often interpreted as a reflection on the fragility of love and the pain that comes with heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a woman, a lonely woman
I am a woman who is all alone
Waiting on the weary shore
I am waiting on the shore with a heavy heart
I'm just a woman who's only human
I am a human being who gets hurt and feels pain
One you should feel sorry for
I am someone who deserves your pity and compassion
It was a morning, long before dawn
It was a very early morning, while it was still dark outside
Without a warning I found he was gone
I discovered that he was gone without any prior notice or indication
How could he do it, why should he do it
I am confused and hurt, wondering why he would leave me without explanation
He never done it before
He has never left me like this before
Am I blue, am I blue
Am I sad, am I depressed
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
Don't my tear-filled eyes give you a clue?
How can you ask me am I blue
How can you be so oblivious and not see that I am sad?
Why, wouldn't you be too
Wouldn't you also be sad if you were in my shoes?
If each plan with your man
If every plan you had with your partner
Done fell through
Has now fallen apart
There was a time
There was a moment in the past
When I was his only one
When I was the only person he loved
But now I'm the sad and lonely one, lonely
But now I am the one who is sad and alone
Was I gay, until today
Was I happy and carefree, until this day
Now he's gone, and we're through
Now he has left me and our relationship is over
Am I blue
Am I sad
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRANT CLARKE, HARRY AKST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@machpodfan
Another under-sung goddess. Always classy, with a melancholic blue behind even the happiest song, and intelligent!
@bohumilknop563
Thanks!
@60otaku4
You're welcome, Bohumil Knop -san!!
Otaku4 (^_^)/
@bohumilknop563
Thank you,Otaku4-san!